Overview
Northeast Philadelphia is a more residential area of the city, although it is home to burgeoning Russian, Brazilian, and Indian communities and restaurants. Northeast Philly is home to Philadelphia Mills Mall (formerly Franklin Mills Mall), claimed to be the most visited attraction in Pennsylvania.
6 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Northeast
Northeast Skate Zone
Here in the two rink facility they have public hockey, birthday parties, public skating, and hockey leagues. Besides two rinks there also is a pro-shop, snack bar, and an arcade.
Thunderbird Lanes
Bowling is always a good time! If you are looking for an old school family bowling alley then thunderbird lanes is the place for you! Located on Holme Ave they have cosmo, karaoke bowling every Friday night from 12:30-3:…
Burholme Park
Burholme Park is a public park that provides playing fields for sport organizations. The property is home to three baseball diamonds, a football field, and three soccer fields. Burholme also contains a playground and is …
Pennypack Park
Large city park with 2.5 miles of scenic beauty along Pennypack Creek. This park includes creeks, waterfalls, biking trails, dog walking trails, and home to the Pennypack Park Music Festival. Complete with bike, horse, a…
Pleasant Hill Park
A great park for picnics, along with a popular boat ramp.
Wissinoming Park
Frankford and Cheltenham Ave
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Nov. Summer highs reach about 87°F; winter lows dip to about 21°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Huntingdon Valley)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TTN Trenton Mercer Airport, Ewing Township — 15 mi away. Directions
- PHL Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia — 21 mi away (major hub). Directions
Heading eastbound on the Market-Frankford Line, Church Station through the Frankford Transportation Center are all located in the Northeast (or a more liberal definition of the Northeast may claim as far west as Girard station to be in the Northeast). SEPTA's Trenton Line, West Trenton Line, and Fox Chase Line trains have stops in the Northeast as well.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $70–$70 a night (typical $70), from 4 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$240.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Burholme Park, Wissinoming Park
- Lunch Johnnie's Italian Restaurant
- Afternoon Pennypack Park, Pleasant Hill Park
- Dinner Benny the Bum's
- Evening Chickie's and Pete's
Day 2
- Morning Northeast Skate Zone
- Lunch Uzbekistan Restaurant
- Afternoon Thunderbird Lanes
- Dinner Nick's Roast Beef
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Now Philadelphia was not named one on the fattest cities in the country for no reason! In Philadelphia, there is always a place to eat and go to have a good time! The Northeast has lots to choose from! From Dave and Buster's, Nifty Fifty's, Texas Roadhouse, and Chickie's and Pete's, you will never leave the Northeast hungry. Do not forget to grab a Philadelphia soft pretzel, Rita's water ice, and cheese steak, as well as stopping by a Wawa and grabbing a Tastykake.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The Northeast is notable for bargain shopping. Northeast Philadelphia is home to Philadelphia Mills Mall, with many popular brands having large outlet stores there. The Far Northeast is the farthest north you can get in Philadelphia without leaving the city. This section is mostly residential and somewhat suburban in character, with some light industrial parks. The lower portion of the Northeast tends to have a more dense, urban feel. Pennypack Park runs through the Northeast and the Far Northeast.
Port Richmond is largely populated by people of Polish and Irish descent. Known for various Polish businesses as well as restaurants, this section of the city is known for its authentic Polish cuisine. Many different grade schools, public and parochial, are in Port Richmond. This area of the city is very convenient to Center City, Old City, South Philly, the Northeast, as well as New Jersey via the Betsy Ross Bridge. Access to the El as well as the trolley and bus routes also make this area a great place to live and commute to different areas of the city. Affordable housing is also a perk of the Port Richmond area. This neighborhood is made up of mostly row homes and various types of apartments. Many businesses thrive along Aramingo Avenue, which is a heavy populated avenue in this neighborhood.
Wissinoming and nearby Tacony are home to several churches and grade schools. Access to New Jersey is provided via the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. Wissinoming is situated to the east of Frankford, which is home to the Frankford Transportation Center (known colloquially as "Bridge and Pratt" since the terminal is at the intersection of Pratt and Bridge Streets). The Market Frankford Line (or El)'s eastern terminus is the Frankford Transportation Center. There are eighteen bus routes that stop here, leading to different sections of Philadelphia and beyond.
Lawndale is a diverse, residential neighborhood located between Cottman Avenue and Rising Sun Avenue/Roosevelt Boulevard.
Get in
By train
Heading eastbound on the Market-Frankford Line, Church Station through the Frankford Transportation Center are all located in the Northeast (or a more liberal definition of the Northeast may claim as far west as Girard station to be in the Northeast). SEPTA's Trenton Line, West Trenton Line, and Fox Chase Line trains have stops in the Northeast as well.
By car
Easily accessible via I-95 (exits 27 though 35), Route 1/Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 351). This is also a good part of the city to have a car, since distances are greater, and on-street parking in greater supply.
By plane
Go Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE)
This is Pennsylvania's sixth busiest airport, providing U.S. Customs, Immigrations and United States Department of Agriculture services to corporate international travel—more casual visitors can arrive this way only if they are lucky enough to have their own aircraft! The airport averages 215-based aircraft, dominated by single engine aircraft, plus twins, jets, turboprops and helicopters.
By bus
An abundance of SEPTA buses serve the Northeast.
By boat
There are a few boat ramps along the Delaware River. The gates are often closed at 10:30PM by police; check online for times.
See
- Otherworld is a surreal art installation in a disused big-box store at 2500 Grant Avenue in the Far Northeast. Not great if you have sensory overload issues.
Do
- AMC 14 Movie Theater Conveniently located inside Philadelphia Mills Mall
Do Thunderbird Lanes
Bowling is always a good time! If you are looking for an old school family bowling alley then thunderbird lanes is the place for you! Located on Holme Ave they have cosmo, karaoke bowling every Friday night from 12:30-3:30AM as well as discount bowling throughout the week!
Parks
Do Burholme Park
Burholme Park is a public park that provides playing fields for sport organizations. The property is home to three baseball diamonds, a football field, and three soccer fields. Burholme also contains a playground and is very popular for sledding because of its large and distinct hill. The park is next to Jeanes Hospital, a mini-golf, and a driving range facility.
Do Pennypack Park
Large city park with 2.5 miles of scenic beauty along Pennypack Creek. This park includes creeks, waterfalls, biking trails, dog walking trails, and home to the Pennypack Park Music Festival. Complete with bike, horse, and hiking trails, this is a must see on a nice day. The best entrance is at Frankford & Ashburner, at the King's Highway Bridge. In the summer months the Friends of Pennypack Park host a summer concert series every Wednesday featuring local favorites. Park at the entrance at Welsh and Cresco and follow the crowd.
Buy
Frankford Ave and Torresdale Ave are the two main shopping streets in lower Northeast Philly. Northeast Philadelphia is also home to one of the Philadelphia's regions largest outlet malls, Philadelphia Mills. There also two other malls in Bucks County (outside the City of Philadelphia) about ten to twenty minutes away—the Neshaminy Mall and Oxford Valley Mall.
Shop Philadelphia Mills (formerly Franklin Mills)
If you are a shopper, then you have picked the right place to shop! In the Far Northeast is the Philadelphia Mills Mall, which is a huge outlet mall. Located on Knights Road, Philadelphia Mills Mall is home to over 200 stores, X-games skate park, restaurants, and movie theater. It is easily accessible via exit 35 on I-95.
Shop Artifax
Artifax is a producer and distributor of fine tobacco and accessories, conveniently located just around the corner from Steve's: Prince of Steaks. Although small, Artifax carries most any type of tobacco product or accessory, from plain old cigarette tobacco to intricate and extravagant glass pipes.
- Located along Cottman Avenue, west of Roosevelt Boulevard.
Shop Roosevelt Mall
A strip mall that includes a multitude of outlets. Stores include Macy's, Verizon (residential and wireless communications), T-Mobile, Hot Topic, J&J Tattoos, Shogun III Hibachi Restaurant, CVS, GNC, Foot Locker, Toys"R"Us, Modell's Sporting Goods, Wings 2 Go, Hallmark, Salerno Pizzeria, Mandee, and Wine & Spirits.
Eat
Now Philadelphia was not named one on the fattest cities in the country for no reason! In Philadelphia, there is always a place to eat and go to have a good time! The Northeast has lots to choose from! From Dave and Buster's, Nifty Fifty's, Texas Roadhouse, and Chickie's and Pete's, you will never leave the Northeast hungry. Do not forget to grab a Philadelphia soft pretzel, Rita's water ice, and cheese steak, as well as stopping by a Wawa and grabbing a Tastykake.
Eat Benny the Bum's
The seafood capital of the Northeast. The atmosphere is casual, upbeat, and definitely fun, decorated with antiques, period signage, and collectible memorabilia. A real crabhouse.
Eat Nick's Roast Beef
A neighborhood tavern most well-known for its legendary roast beef sandwiches, Nick's Roast Beef has undergone its fair share of development since its humble beginnings in 1969. Lawndale locals flock to this friendly neighborhood pub and restaurant located on Cottman Avenue. A welcoming and friendly atmosphere combined with great food and fun makes Nick's Roast Beef a fine location to wine and dine.
Eat Steve's Steaks
A contender with the many other infamous cheese steak houses in Philadelphia, Steve's Steaks is a wholesome neighborhood cheese steak spot in Lawndale owned and operated by native Steve Iliescu and his family. In 1992, 1998, 2005, and 2007, Steve's was voted "Best Cheesesteak" by Philadelphia Magazine. On November 27, 1998, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to make the world’s largest cheese steak for the Guinness Book of World Records. The steak itself was 365 feet long and was made by 22 local cheese steak restaurants, all competing to be the best of the biggest. Ultimately, Steve's was crowned the winner.
Eat Uzbekistan Restaurant
With both and indoor dining area as well as a heated outdoor patio, this restaurant serves common Uzbekistani dishes (of course the country's national dish of plov is included) and regularly hosts events where you can witness and participate the Northeast's eastern European migrants' festivities.
Drink
The normal bar in Northeast Philadelphia are corner pubs, holding about 100 people. The area around Cottman and Frankford Ave. has a large selection of bars to choose from, with reasonable beer specials (just ask the bartender). Few have a cover charge of $3 to $5 if a band is playing; don't be embarrassed to turn it down and go to a different place.
Drink Chickie's and Pete's
Nationally recognized as one of the top sports bars in America. The Roosevelt Blvd location is larger than the Frankford Ave.
Sleep
Crime
While much of Northeast Philadelphia is relatively safe, the areas of Fairhill, Glenwood, Hunting Park, Harrowgate, Stanton, North Central, West Kensington, Hartranft, and Kensington comprise a section that earned the nickname "The Badlands" that has been repeatedly identified as one of the nation's largest open-air drug use and drug-related crime areas in the nation. The region's crime is so notorious that it has been the subject of numerous documentaries and even a novel called Third and Indiana.
Nearby
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Feasterville
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Burlington
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Huntingdon Valley
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Bristol
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Holland
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Cinnaminson
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Langhorne
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